Afternoon everyone! I love all the talk about gardening. The daffodils in our front yard are slowly coming up and should be here in time for easter. Afterall, what is easter without daffodils?

I'm inviting some friends over today to play board games out on the deck for a relaxing afternoon. I would have loved to go biking or something but one of them got hit by a car a few weeks ago and is on crutches/in a wheelchair because of a broken leg. I figured playing games outside was a good way for us to enjoy the sunshine.

Today is my last day here and I haven't gotten ANY work done... which isn't bad, but it isn't good either. I scheduled time to procrastinate it... which is very strange, I know, but it keeps me on track.

Enjoy this beautiful day, everyone!

Morning chickies!

I was up at 5a - awoken by my 70 year old neighbor cursing out a guy trying to break into her car! It was lively. So now my day is off because I couldn't get back to sleep until 6:30a and lept until 11a. I am going to spring clean the kitchen, clear out the fridge and then go to Target for cat food and the grocery store as well.

I think there are random tulips popping up in the backyard. Because we don't own the house, we can't nor do we want to put in the effort and $ into a real garden. So my dad bought a seed mat...lol I want to put it out today when I am hauling the garbage back and fourth.

Anyway, I am off to start my day. It's times liek these when I am thankful not to have kids ;)

re: the dog digging...

My dogs LOVE to dig in my raised garden when I first plant stuff, so what I do is cover the soil in cayenne pepper and that keeps them out of there. I just get those huge cheapo containers of it at the grocery store.

That's a good idea Cat. Neighborhood cats and dogs get into my mom's gardens, I'll have to pass that tip along.

I just finished several hours of yard work and I'm feeling tired but very happy. I wore my gloves but ended up with a few blisters anyway... instead of whining about them I'm calling them the start of my "nice weather calluses". :lol:

I was amazed at how many shoots I found when I started raking. I hope I won't be sorry that I uncovered my flower beds so soon, but this has been a weird winter - so mild. I'm expecting a delightful, early spring. :encore:

My dogs don't dig, but they lay in the middle of my flower beds. I'll try the cayenne. Thanks, Cat!

It has been a beautiful couple of days here. But, the forecast from Sunday night through Monday morning calls for snow. Boo! Who said to enjoy it one day at a time? I hope for a little more sun and warmth tomorrow morning...

Chelby, I just can't imagine cayenne phasing Sparkit! Maybe bulk from Sams :lol:

We're in the middle of nowhere...very beautiful, but I'm glad I brought food...very few choices and very expensive. We toured Capitol Reef Natl Park today and will head to Bryce Canyon Natl Park tomorrow. No coffee maker in the room-I have to walk down now and get our thermos filled...a Sunday without coffee in the heart of Mormon country would be quite grim!

Debbie, My SIL got an invisible fence for their little yappy dog. The fence installer said that there are only two dogs that could not be deterred by the electric shock -- a malamute and a great pyrenees. You are right -- it may take more persuasion to keep Sparkit out of my garden. :p

Good luck with the coffee!

Made it home! Is it really spring? Snow here! We made our delayed-start drive straight through in 12 hours with only bad roads the first hour or so and the last hour. Phew.

Shoulder is still quite sore. Hard to type:( Doubt I can exercise. Eager to catch up tomorrow and see what scale says. Til then chicks :hug:

Good Sunday morning. :coffee:

I'm glad you made it back home through the snowstorms, Karen! I hope your shoulder heals soon so you can start getting back into the swing of things.

I think we're going to get one more day of this gorgeous, sunny weather before rain moves in. I'm visiting my parents this morning for a while, but plan to sit out on the patio with my book for a while this afternoon. Yesterday, I found new homes for several azalea and a few perrenials that we dug up from the front yard before the water guys got here, so there's nothing pressing to do today. Amber, Tyler and I had a lot of fun at the park yesterday, playing on the playground equipment and exploring the creek. Both kids came home with muddy shoes and wet pant cuffs, but they had a blast, and that's what matters. :)
I think Monica and the girls are coming out after church today, and Dustin and Andrea and the kids will be back over for supper, so I'm making them chicken parmigiana and pasta, and will make spaghetti squash for me.

What's everyone doing today?

Good morning! :wave:

Karen, I'm glad you're home safe and sound. I'm sorry your shoulder is still so painful though.

Linda it sounds like you had a very productive day yesterday! And gave Amber and Tyler some great memories.

I spent most of my day outdoors yesterday too. I got so much done and I'm feeling great this morning, but I look pretty awful. My eyes are bloodshot (allergies) and my nose is bright red (I never thought to use sunscreen in March) and I've got band aids all over my hands to keep the blister ointment where it belongs. lol I'm hoping I can make myself look a little bit more presentable before I leave for church or people will start fleeing when I walk in the door. :lol: My yard looks really good though. :D

I've got a little bit more to do out there this afternoon, we've got rain/sleet on the way so it's today or who knows when. I've also got lesson plans and some baking to do too, (for a funeral meal tomorrow). I'll wait and do the baking right after supper when I'm stuffed though. That's when it's easiest for me not to do any taste testing.

Enjoy your Sunday ladies! :hug:

Good morning :coffee2: The cats let us sleep in until 6:30. It's not much but I'll take it. No sun or 70s here today, more like rain and 50s. Oh well, still beats that other stuff.

Karen - hope the shoulder recovers quickly.

Cottage - Enjoy the sun :) I encourage mud play and send ideas out about that all the time. Mud is fun!

Heidi - Yesterday morning I was laughing because I got my first Pollen Update, a sure sign of spring. It's New England I'm sure everyone was making the most of the weather yesterday :)

Today it's all about spring cleaning and watching basketball :) I cooked 4 kinds of beans yesterday but might do some chick peas for crunchies today. For all you mock snack cake adventurers I made a pumpkin spice cake last night that is amazing. I can't believe how much fun I'm having with this recipe :)

Now I need my coffee! Hope the sun is out where you are

Heidi, it's a shame that you have to suffer through allergies while enjoying the weather. Are you taking anything for the symptoms? I like your strategy for avoiding any baking mishaps!

Cyndi, we're supposed to have rain for the next couple of days, so I'm getting the most out of today! Did you get your peas planted yesterday?

I'd better be prepared for Spring allergy season, although so far I've been OK. It's not OP, but I swear by a spoonful of local raw, unprocessed honey every day. It's helped get me through the pollen season when nothing else worked.

Woohoo! I just found a can of organic pumpkin in my pantry! I'm going to bake a Pumpkin Spice Snack Cake today! :)

Good Morning:sunny:
Karen, glad to hear from you. I hope you get some rest today.

Cottage, I'm always amazed when I hear that azaleas really grow in the ground! I'm glad you're having a great weekend with the kids. Enjoy your porch moments today.

Heidi, you provided such a good description-I imagined the gardener both pre-project and after. Ouch. Have a good day.

Cyndi, please post your pumpkin modification. I tried one, but it wasn't post worthy. I did make a gingerbread, but won't post it since it has a bit of molasses. Enjoy your day at home.

Me, sitting in Torrey, Utah, drinking reheated coffee (organic-fair trade) waiting for the troops to rise. At least it looks like there will be time to drink this coffee and have them fill our thermos. I hope we get some good hiking in today, and that maybe I can ride my bike a bit, too. It's freezing cold here-very windy.

Have a great day everyone!

I think you're right about spring in New England Cyndi - I had fun watching traffic go by. One minute a car would go by with skis on the roof, headed for Sunday River and some spring skiing. The next thing you know a motorcycle or a convertible with the top down would whiz past. lol

Linda, I take zyrtec, nasonex and use eye drops as needed for my allergies. I never had any problems with allergies (or my weight) until I was 39. I had pneumonia that winter and I've been plagued with asthma and all sorts of allergies ever since. I hate taking so many medicines but I end up on prednisone if I'm not really careful. I have a love/hate relationship with prednisone - I'm thankful for it when I can't breathe and to be honest I feel really good when I'm taking it, every little ache and pain disappears and my IBS becomes a faint memory. lol But I always gain weight. Lots of weight. :( It slows my metabolism, saps my energy and gives me an awful case of the munchies. I have a hard time tapering off once I'm taking it, so I usually end up on small doses for several months at a time. I've been really blessed this winter though and I'm praying for a great spring/summer too.

Good morning Debbie! :wave:
I hope you can get some hiking in! I'm so anxious for our first hike of the season. We'd end up knee deep in mud if we tried it now though. :lol:
Enjoy your day!

We tried a mini-hike yesterday, just around the reservoir. The ground had a lot of that top frozen layer that cracks when you stop on it and water and mud underneath. Then there was the ice. Think I'll stick with paths for a few more weeks :)

Debbie - Sounds beautiful there. I hope there will be pictures? You've inspired me to pull my bike out and get it to the hop for a spring tune-up. Have to be ready to ride !
The cake - basically just used maybe 1/2 cup homemade pumpkin butter (:o I did not actually measure) instead of oil or other add-ins, lots of spices (cinnamon, cloves, mace, ginger). I sweetened with coconut palm sugar.